Jump in number of building site raids

By Sarah Schwager
THE rate of burglaries at construction sites around Cranbourne is getting out of control, according to police.
Cranbourne police said every week they received reports of burglaries in Cranbourne and surrounding suburbs and that the problem was starting to get beyond a joke.
Senior Sergeant Bernie Kaminski urged builders and home owners to put temporary fencing around their sites and upgrade their security.
Sen Sgt Kaminski said even then thieves were breaking through but it at least repelled some would-be thieves.
A construction site at the landfill on Cemetery Road, Cranbourne, was broken into late last week.
Thieves cut a hole in a boundary fence at the site then cut the padlock to one of the site containers, which contained tools.
Power tools, a generator worth $1000, electrical leads and a diesel pump were stolen.
Police said it was the second burglary at the site in a short period of time.
The burglary happened between 4.30pm on Thursday, 27 July and 7am on Friday, 28 July.
On the weekend, thieves broke into a house under construction in Alpine Heath Way, Lyndhurst, which was at lock-up stage.
Police said thieves broke into a garage and stole two internal Federation ten light doors between 4pm on Saturday and 9.20am on Sunday.
Sen Sgt Kaminski said display homes had to also be included in the mix.
He said any properties where there was no one around at night tended to be targeted.
A display home in Cranbourne was broken into this week.
Thieves stole a plasma television and VCR from the locked house on Harpenden Terrace.
It turned out the television was a replica and did not work.
The burglary happened between 5.10pm on Sunday and 12.50pm on Monday.
Anyone who hears or sees someone suspicious around a construction site or who knows any information about any past incidents should call Cranbourne CIU on 5995 4577 or Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.